March 17, 2015

Her most favorite things party at age two. I hemmed and hawed over what to do for this birthday. She loves Peppa Pig, but she also loves Dora the Explorer. What theme was going to suit her 2nd birthday? Did we need a theme? I knew her birthdays were numbered when I have the opportunity to choose the theme. By next year she will most likely be old enough to specify and choose herself. One day at lunch I was texting with my sister about what it could be. So I began a list of her favorite things on a scratch sheet of paper. As I shoveled the last chip in my mouth, it hit me.

Favorite Things.

If it's good enough for Oprah, then we can do it even better for Ellis :)

These 2X7 bookmarks were inside each party favor bag to explain her favorite things.

Every detail was SO worth it when Adam brought her into the party room and I got to watch her eyes dance and light up with excitement.

I strung up her Freshly Picked moccasin collection with jute and clothes pins. Before you gasp, just know that most of these were bought in good used condition (GUC) off social media groups :)

Scattered about the tables were photos printed in 3X3 size cardstock from Persnickety Prints. These babies are such awesome quality and so cool that you can print from your Instagram roll.

Each table had red paper place mats for a pop of color, a party favor bag, and a mini felt moccasin ornament. Each mocc was lovingly hand-sewn by me. (insert emojicon with X's for eyes) I will be honest...when I started them, they seemed easy...and then about 10 in, I was all "what.the.(badword) did I get myself into?!" But the stubborn inner me, dug deep and pushed through to finish more than 50. Thank goodness I started them sometime during the Christmas holidays.

For food, we had macaroni and cheese, pigs in a blanket (hotdogs), cheese and fruit. Her faves to eat. I used the Freshly Picked dust bags to make a small banner for the table, and added the tissue paper tassels for a pop of color.

Her cake was made by a local bakery, Flour Power, who did the perfect job at creating the moccs out of fondant and the cake tasted AMAZING.

The 2 in the background was made using the 3X3 cardstock prints from Persnickety Prints, and this tutorial by A La Mo Party Styling. As you can see, I ran out of room for the bottom row of pics and ended up having to be super picky as to which photos I was going to include, but most are the highlight photos from my #ellischandlerrose Instagram posts over the the past two years.

Instead of having a candy buffet, we decided to have her favorite things buffet so guests could fill their own goodie bags with her favorite things: Mardi Gras beads, Dora Maps (mozzarella cheese sticks) (Idea found here), Skittles, and mini play dough jars. Most of the items that are listed on her on her favorite things bookmark were on the table.

The other items listed on the bookmarks were covered by a wonderful girl named Ashley, who does face painting and balloon twisting for parties and events; Ashley's Twist and Paint.

She was a total hit and worth every penny, although she is super-duper reasonable :) The kiddos loved it. Ellis didn't quite understand getting her face painted (she wanted to do the painting!), but man oh man, she LOVED the balloons.

And when it came time to sing Happy Birthday and blow out the candles, she was all about it.

(eating Skittles while being sung to? Even better!)

And thanks to my sister, we have this awesome moment caught on video...

Pretty much sums up the entire day. The high fives at the end...I die.

Watching her literally dance across the room with her friends from daycare was magical. Usually she is quite timid and clingy to us when we are in new environments - at least until she warms up. Not that day. I had several friends text me afterward to tell me how awesome they thought it was that she literally "worked the room" entertaining her guests, having fun, and being a social butterfly. My usual timid baby was a different child that day. Like she just knew it was her day. It was as if on the very first day of her second year, she grew within her little soul as well.

Such a fun and cool day for our little family. And the best part was celebrating with friends and family who love her dearly.